Chronic Toxicity Study of The Effect of Crude Petroleum (Bonny Light), Kerosine and Gasoline on Rats Using Haematological Parameters

Haematological parameters such as haemoglobin content (Hb), pack cell volume (PCV) and white Blood Cell Counts (WBC) were used to assess the effect of crude oil (bony light) , kerosene and gasoline on rats chronically exposed to 15kg^-1,7.5kg^-1 and 5gk^-1 of the respective petroleum samples of crude petroleum (bony light), kerosene and gasoline. These samples were administered intraperitoneally and monitored for first, second and third months of exposure. A significant fall in Hb and PCV were observed in the three sample groups through the 3 months duration. For gasoline injected rats the Hb decreased from 13.86 ± 0.21 of control to 6.35 ±0.49 at third month, kerosene from 13.86±0.21 of control to 9.18±2.80 and crude petroleum (bonny light) from 13.86± 0.21 of control to 10.67 ±0.65 at third month. Furthermore, the PCVdecreasd from 41.50±0.71 of control to 19.05±1.47 at the third month for gasoline, kerosene decreased from 41.50 ±0.71 of control to 27.74±8.40 at the third month, with crude petroleum (bonny light) decreasing from 41.50 ± 0.71 of control to 31.91 ± 1.95 at the third month. Finally the WBC seemed to increase marginally from 4.65 ± 0.07 of control to 5.00 ± 0.14 at the third month with gasoline, 6.85 ± 1 1.39 at third month with crude petroleum (bony light) . in conclusion, the results seemed to suggest that long term exposure of rats to petroleum samples could induce anaemia through the reduction in Hb and PCV levels as obtained in this study. @ JASEM